Riggs Partners

The Unsung Heroes of CreateAthon

As we look in the rearview mirror at CreateAthon 2011, we are compelled to share the many minds and hearts that make all this magic possible. A lively band of volunteers. The schedulers. The planners. The creative brief writers. The production donors. The Tweeters.

the 2011 crazies.

CreateAthon has many heroes and we don’t want any to get lost in the shuffle.

Riggs Partners’ Tom Barr not only built an impressive schedule and project matrix that kept order in sleep-deprived madness; he was a workspace ninja. He shoehorned 33+ volunteers in a space that normally accommodates about half that, and everyone had a desk, chair, Internet, printer and server access. Not to mention a convenience store’s worth of snacks.

the one and only Tom Barr.

The lovely and talented folks at Emulsion Arts saw fit to document the entire experience for us in an amazing video we hope you’ve already seen. And even more jaw-dropping was that they took the CreateAthon modus operandi to heart. They filmed and edited the video during CreateAthon, presenting it to tears and squeals just moments after the last client left the WECO building.

Gettin' that shot.

Our friends at Crowson Stone printing have again kindly donated their services to print the collateral materials developed for CreateAthon clients. It’s simply not possible to thank them enough. They have provided this gift to CreateAthon for ten years. Combined with gifts of paper from Domtar and Wausau paper mills (made possible by Frances Grosse of Mac Papers), this donation makes actual production of CreateAthon materials possible.

With full hearts and tummies we also thank Moe’s Southwest Grill and Yesterday’s Restaurant and Tavern. Their healthy fare helps counteract the over consumption of a vast array of bad food choices made in 24 hours including cookies, doughnuts, Tootsie Roll Pops, sausage biscuits and every kind of potato chip known to man.

Two newcomer volunteers this year made gifts that went above donating their time and talent. Photographer Jeff Amberg donated a bank of imagery for one project. You guessed it: shot, retouched and donated during the day of CreateAthon. Mind Over Matter Films’ William Huang filmed and edited a five-minute video for one CreateAthon client. Miraculously, at some point in the wee small hours of the morning, William also secured an original score for the video from composer Vincent Parrish.

William Huang

As we reflect on the magic that happened and the people who made it all possible, we’re sure there are important folks we are leaving out. We hope you’ll forgive us. We’re extremely humbled and grateful for everyone who lends a hand to make CreateAthon the wonderful experience it is.

Thank you and see you again next year!